In a moment destined for the history books, the unstoppable Max Kühner captured the prestigious 2024 Longines Global Champions Tour Champion of Champions title, securing his place among the sport’s greats.
The 18th championship race came down to the final LGCT Grand Prix of the season in Rabat presented by Qatar’s Years of Culture as part of the Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture, where Kühner faced fierce competition from Christian Kukuk. Ultimately a crucial fence falling in round 1 for Kukuk and a foot-perfect clear from Max, the title was decided before the jump-off.
With a combined prize pool exceeding €1.4 million for the Championship and the LGCT Grand Prix of Rabat, elite horse-and-rider combinations from around the world came together in full force, thrilling a packed audience with a stunning display of world-class show jumping in the first-ever CSI5* Grand Prix in Africa. 21 out of 38 horses in the start list of the LGCT Grand Prix of Rabat presented by Qatar’s Years of Culture as part of the Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture had previously won a CSI5* Grand Prix showing just how strong the field was.
Collecting their 6th clear in an LGCT Grand Prix this year, Eduardo Alvarez Aznar and 19-year-old Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot picked up the final ticket for the 2024 Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix after winning the LGCT Grand Prix of Rabat today.
An emotional Max Kühner reacted to his championship win immediately after round one of today’s LGCT Grand Prix. Fighting tears and finding words, he said, “I’m overwhelmed… Electric Blue really fought in the ring – it seems like he knew this was for something special.”
Securing the title amongst a field of esteemed colleagues of the show jumping fraternity, Max added, “This is the highest level of competition in the world, and it’s not a ‘one day’ result, it’s a result even more than over a weekend – it’s a whole season. The consistency of good results over the whole season makes me proud, and that’s a sign that over the year we did something right.”
Second place Christian Kukuk spoke to GCTV in the aftermath of his round where he said, “Of course, I am a little disappointed with not winning the Championship, it would be strange if I was not – I am a sportsman and it is what we all want. I am very happy about my year. It has been a very, very special year for me, but still being second in the LGCT individual championship means that the year was so consistent. That means a lot to me because to win a single LGCT Grand Prix is already difficult, but when you prove all this success consistently, that is the next step.”
And on his arch rival of the 2024 season? Christian commented, “He has been the most consistent rider in the highest level you can have in our sport. He has an incredible string of horses… he has an unbelievable eye for a horse, it is not luck he has all these horses in his stable, he found them himself.”
As part of the GCL Championship winning team, the Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames, Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann has been riding a wave of success from start to finish in the 2024 season. As for the individual championship? She said, “Honestly I don’t really know what to say – it was so overwhelming today. The class was a real challenge but I thought we could do it.”
As for her superstar mount Messi van ‘t Ruytershof? She went on to add, “He, for me, is one of the best horses in the world. He is so careful, super intelligent, and so sensitive inside of a big body. I had the chance to prove my consistency, and also for Messi, and that is something I am really proud.”
Founder and President of the Longines Global Champions Tour, Jan Tops, reflected on the successful inaugural LGCT of Rabat, he said, “The very first 5* and the Longines Global Champions Tour in Africa, we couldn’t be more pleased with how this event came together in Rabat. Thank you to our long term title partner, Longines, as well as our partners for this show, Qatar’s Years of Culture as part of the Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture. I want to congratulate Max, Christian and Janne for your success this season – it has been a year of top sport in some incredible locations and we are looking forward now to the final event, the GC Playoffs in Riyadh.”
In the post-event press conference, without skipping a beat, Max added, “I think I say for all the riders, to Jan and his whole team, you are producing so many great shows for us, it is a big part of the sport, it has a big influence on the whole sport, and it’s a very good thing for all of us and these LGCT competitions are a reflection of this.”
His Excellency Issa bin Mohammed AlMohannadii, President of the Racing and Equestrian Club joined Jan Tops, Max, Christian and Janne in the post-event press conference, where he explained the partnership which supported bringing the Longines Global Champions Tour to life. He said, “The Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture has been about creating lasting ties between our people through cultural exchanges. And that’s exactly what this initiative was intended for when it launched in 2012 – to bring people from different cultures and walks of life together through shared experiences.”
With a strong bond existing between the two nations of Qatar and Morocco strengthened by the partnership, the Longines Global Champions Tour of Rabat brought the cultures together even further. His Excellency went on to add, “The Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture has a lot of activities, but the horse has been selected because the legacy of horses is appreciated by both nations, and through this partnership, we were able to secure this wonderful event. Hosting Longines here is special because it highlights the shared values between our countries – a love for tradition, a drive for excellence, and a commitment to building relationships beyond borders. Equestrian sports are at the heart of both our cultures, and this event gives us the chance to honor that heritage.”
Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa, His Excellency Issa bin Mohammed AlMohannadii, President of the Racing and Equestrian Club, along with Jan Tops, President and Founder of the Longines Global Champions Tour, and Mr. Urs Schiendorfer, Longines Global Consultant for Equestrian Sport, presented the awards to the top three riders of the day. Joining the riders on the podium were their dedicated grooms—Mariella Offner, Sofie Karlsson, and Sebastian Hasenberg—who were also recognized with trophies in honor of their hard work and contributions to this season’s success.
2024 Longines Global Champions Tour Final Overall Season Standings
1. Max Kühner: 254 points
2. Christian Kukuk: 248 points
3. Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann: 234 points
4. Eduardo Alvarez Aznar: 227 points
5. Maikel van der Vleuten: 212 points
(Top Canadian in the overall standings was Kyle Timm in 24th place with 122 points and season earnings of €121,419.34)
In a breathtaking display of elite sport and entertainment, the thrilling Finals of the 2024 Longines Global Champions Tour took to Morocco for the first time. Set against the stunning backdrop, the grand finale of the 15-event Championship played out under the sun, with an electrifying atmosphere to match. With all top 10 riders from the overall ranking present it was a battle of the best.
Denis Lynch and Brooklyn Heights took to the arena first in the rapid jump-off. He set the pace with a clear in a tight time of 39.47 seconds leaving the rest of the field to chase him down. Next up young gun Thibeau Spits was aiming to add another LGCT Grand Prix win to his name but it wasn’t to be today as a fence came tumbling down on Impress-K van ‘t Kattenheye Z.
Having been knocking on the door all season Eduardo Alvarez Aznar and his legendary horse Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot gave it everything they had. Like clockwork, the pair who have been partners for 11 years stole the show clear in 36.96 seconds and left it a nervous wait to see if they had done enough.
For a third year running Malin Bayard Johnsson and H&M Indiana gave everyone a run for their money just missing out on a ticket for the LGCT Super Grand Prix finishing second behind Aznar by 0.48 seconds.
A too-tight roll back to the third to last fence knocked Philipp Weishaupt and Coby’s chances of a podium position and opened the door for LGCT Champion Max Kühner to collect two wins today. Putting the pedal to the metal Max and Elektric Blue P flew around the testing track but an agonising back pole at the penultimate fence meant even though his time was faster than Aznar in 36.45 seconds he had to settle for top 5.
While last to go Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann took a check to the last to make sure she kept all the fences out stopping the clock in 38.10 second and took home third place catapulting herself up the Championship overall standings to third.
As the epic 2024 Longines Global Champions Tour season draws to a close, all eyes now turn to the GC Playoffs in Riyadh. This iconic Capital becomes the battleground for the ultimate showdown, where winners from each of the 15 legs return to fight for glory in the €1.25 million Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix. The stage is set for a thrilling clash of titans!
Full results here.
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